Cleveland Museum of Art

Temple Relief of a Deity

Date

360–246 BCE

Medium

limestone

Culture

Egypt, Late period (715–332 BCE), Dynasty 30–Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), Ptolemaic dynasty (305–30 BCE)

Department

Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The almond-shaped eye, snub nose, full cheeks, smiling mouth, and ball.shaped chin are characteristic of Dynasty 30 and the early Ptolemaic Dynasty, when a bolder, fleshier, more three-dimensional style of modeling was introduced. A favorite form of temple decoration during this period was a row of seated deities. This figure was the last in a row of gods facing right, for directly behind him is a dividing line and the slight remains of the vulture headdress, wig, and shoulder of a seated goddess, evidently the last in a row facing the opposite direction. At either end of the complete scene was probably a standing figure of the king presenting offerings.

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